Door hinge assembly



March 12, 1963 c. J. GRlswoLD, JR., ETAL 3,080,602

DOOR HINGE ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 10. 1960 l "xx" (son ZZ/e ATTORNEY March 12, 1963 c. J. GRlswoLD, JR.. ETAL 3,080,602

DOOR HINGE ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1960 ATTORNEY United States Patent ilice 3,080,602 Patented Mar. 12,' 1963 3,080,662 DUUR HINGE ASSEMBLY Charles J. Griswold, Sir., Gal; Park, and Witsen H. West, Madison Heights, Mich., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed (let. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 61,593 7 Claims. (Cl. 16-146) This invention relates to door hinge assemblies and more particularly to a `door hinge, check, and hold open assembly.

The assembly of this invention is of the detent lever type in that it includes la detent lever swingably supported to panel 24 in order to mount the hinge 'assembly on the body.

Wall portions 32 and 34 further include embossed apertured portions 44 which lixedly receive a hinge pintle 46. A gooseneck type of hinge arm 48 is swingably mounted on the pintle 46 for swinging movement throu-gh an arc of slightly greater than 90 between its one terminal position corresponding to door closed position, as shown in FIGURE 1, and its other terminal position corresponding to door open position, as shown in FIGURE 2. Hinge arm 48 includes a flange portion 50 which is bolted at 52 4to the hinge pillar wall 54 of the vehicle door 56 in order to swingably mount the door on the body 10.

As best shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, the lower wall 34 of the hinge box 30 is provided with an offset extension 58. An offset detent lever 60 is pivotally secured at 62 to extension S8 'and swings within the to allow a-narrow pillar width and to also provide a wide range of manners in which the hinge assembly may be mounted on the body. Another feature of this invention is that it provides a novel arrangement of the detent lever biasing spring with respect to the hinge box and detent lever so that a spring 4of maximum force may be used. A further feature of this invention is that it provides a novel arrangement of the detent lever with respect to the hinge box so that a lever of the required length may be used despite the minimum depth of the hinge box. Yet another feature of this invention is that it provides a novel stop arrangement between the detent lever and the hinge box when the hinge arm is in -a terminal position corresponding to door closed position and the cam follower on the hinge arm is out of engagement with the detent lever.

These and other features of this invention will Ibe readily apparent -from the following specification and drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is `a sectional view of a portion of a vehicle body embodying a hinge assembly according to this invention to mount vehicle door thereon, with the door bein-g shown in closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a View similar to FIGURE l showing the door in open position;

FIGURE 3 is a partially broken away view taken genrally along the line indicated by line 3 3 of FIGURE and FIGURE 4 is a partially broken away view taken generally along the line indicated by line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, a vehicle body 16 includes an outer body panel 12 having an offset portion 14 which terminates in a laterally inwardly extending wall portion 16 providing the hinge pill-ar face of the body. An inner body panel lmember 18 includes a flanged end portion 20 which is welded to the wall portion 16. Body panels 12 and 18 are further interconnected by la flanged bracing panel 22 secured to each, and panel 22 and wall portion 16 are interconnected by a flanged bracing panel 24. Offset portion 14 and wall portion 16 of panel 12 are slotted at 26 to provide for swinging movement of the hin-ge arm with respect thereto and panel 24 is slotted at 28 for the same purpose and to also allow the hinge box t-o be mounted thereon.

Referring now to the drawings, generally U-shaped hinge box includes upper and lower Walls 32 and 34, respectively, which are located generally parallel with respect to each other and are interconnected by spaced web portions 36 and 38. Walls 32 and 34 include laterally extending mounting flanges 40 which are bolted at 42 space between the extension and the hinge arm 48. The free end of the detent lever 60 is slotted to provide a pair of legs, with one leg 64 being offset out of the general plane of the detent lever so as to lie in the plane of the 'extension 58. A coil tension spring 66 has one end 68 thereof hooked Within a notch provided in leg 64 and the other end 70 thereof hooked within a notch provided in a laterally and downwardly extending extension or tab 72 of web portion 36 as best shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings. It will be noted that the force of the spring 66 is located along a line passing to one side of the hinge axis defined by pintle 46 and further that the spring extends from one extreme end of the hinge box 30 to the other extreme end thereof so as to bias the detent lever 60 counterclockwise .as viewed in FIGURES l and 2 and hol-d the inner edge 74 ofthe leg 64 in engagement with a complementary edge portion 76 of extension 58 in the closed position of door 56, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3.

The cam edge of the detent lever 60 is provided with a hold open notch 78 and an arcuate edge portion 88. with notch 78 terminating in arcuate shoulder portions 82 and 84, the latter of which merges into the edge portion 8l). The hinge arm 4S is provided with a roller or cam follower 86 which is pivotally mounted thereon and which is adapted to engage the cam edge of the detent lever as the door moves from open to closed positions, as will be hereinafter described. An embossment 88, FIGURE 4, provided on extension 58 is adapted to slidably engage the detent lever 60 in order to accurately locate the detent lever with respect to the extension and prevent lateral or tilting movement of the detent lever with respect thereto, particularly because of the location of the torsion spring 66 below the lower wall 34 of the hinge box and the extension 58 thereof.

When the door is in a closed position, as shown in FlGURES l and 3, the roller 86 is out of engagement with the cam edge of the detent lever 69, and the spring 66 holds the edge portion 74 of the detent lever in engagement with the edge portion 76 of extension 58 and thereby accurately locates the detent lever with respect t0 the arc of movement of roller 86. Upon movement of the door toward an open position, the roller 86 will engage the shoulder 82. and ride thereover into engagement with the notch 78 in the partially open position of the door to provide the first-stagehold open. In the specific structure shown, the engagement of the roller 86 within the notch 78 occurs between 35 and 40 of the swinging movement of the hinge arm 48 from its position of FIG- URE l toward its position of FIGURE 2. The base of the notch 78 is located a shorter radial distance from the hinge axis, as defined by the pintle 46, than is the outer 86 within the notch swings the detent lever 60 slightly clockwise to move the edge portion 74 thereof out of engagement with the edge portion 76 of extension 58. Upon further opening movement of door 56, the roller 86 will move out of engagement with the notch '78 and over the shoulder 84 so as to move into engagement with the edge portion Sii of the detent lever 60 in the fully open position of the doo-r as the hinge arm simultaneously moves into engagement with the web portion 3S of the hinge box to provide a combined check and hold open action in the fully open position of the door 5o Yas shown in FEGURE 2. It will be noted that the arcuate edge portion Sti faces angularly outboard of the body so as to cam the hinge arm 48 outwardly of the body, due to the engagement of the edge portion with the roller 86, so that the hinge arm will be held in tight engagement with the web 33 and thereby prevent rattling in the fully. open position of the door.

It is believed that the operation ofthe hinge assembly during movement of the door 56 from its fully open position to its closed position Vwill be apparent without further description.

Thus, this invention vprovides a new and improved hinge, check, and hold open assembly.

What is claimed is:

l. A hinge assembly comprising, in combination, a first hinge member having spaced juxtaposed wall portions, a second hinge member pivoted to said first hinge member for swinging movement to first and second terminal positions relative thereto between said wall portions, cam follower means onsaid second hinge member movable therewith, an extension on one of said wall portions offset out of the general plane thereof to provide space between Vsaid extension and said second hinge member, lever means pivotally secured to said extension and swingable within said space, said lever means including an edge portion engageable with said cam follower vmeans in at least one position of said second hinge member relative to said first hinge member, Vresilient means continually biasing said lever means toward said cam follower means, and means onsaid lever means offset from the general plane thereof and lying in the general plane of said extension and ,being .,engageable with said extension in one terminal position of said second hinge member relative to said first hinge member to locate said lever means relative to said extension and said cam follower means.

2. A Vhinge assembly comprising, in combination, a first hinge member having spaced juxtaposed wall portions, a second hinge member pivoted to said first hinge member for swing movement to first and second terminal positions relative thereto between said wall portions, cam follower means on said second hinge member movable therewith, an extension on one of said wall portions offset out of the general plane thereof to provide space between said extension and said second hinge member, a lever pivotally secured to said extension and swingable within said space, said lever including at least one cam portion adapted to receive said cam follower means in one position of said second hinge member relative to said firsthinge member, resilient means continually biasing said lever toward said cam follower means, and a tab on said lever offset from the general plane thereof and lying in the general plane of said extension and being engageable with said extension in one terminal position of `said second hinge member relative to said first hinge member to locate said lever relative to said extension and said cam follower means.

3. A hinge assembly comprising, in combination, a nrst hinge member having spaced juxtaposed wall portions, a second hinge member pivoted `to said first hinge member for swinging movement to first and second terminal position-s relative thereto between said wall portions, cam follower means on said second hinge member movable therewith, an extension on one of said wall portions offset out of the general plane thereof to provide space vbetween said extension land :said second hinge member,

i lever means privo-tally secured to said extension and swingable within said space, said lever means including an edge portion provided with at least one cam portion adapted to receive said cam follower means in one position of said second hinge member relative to `Said first hinge member, means on said lever means offset from the general piane thereof and lying in the general plane of said extension and being engageable with said extension in one termi-nal position `of said second hinge member relative to said first hinge member [to loca-te said lever means relative 'to said extension and said cam follower means, and resilient means interconnecting said offset lever means and said first hinge member oo continually bias said lever means into engagement with said extension.

4. A hinge assembly comprising, in combination, a first hinge member having ,spaced juxtaposed wall portions, a second hinge member pivoted to said first hinge member for swinging movement to first and second terminal positions relative thereto between said wall p-ortions, cam follower means on 4said Vsecond hinge mem-ber mov-able therewith, an extension on one of said wall portions oiiset out of the general plane thereof to provide space between said extension and said second hinge member, lever means pivotally secured to said extension and swingable within said space, said lever means including at least one cam portion adapted to receive said cam follower means in one position of said second hinge member relative to said first hinge member, means on sa-id lever means offset from the general plane thereof and lying in the general plane of said extension and being engageable with said extension in one terminal position of said second hinge member relative to said first hinge member to locate said lever means relative -to -said extension and said cam follower means, and resilient means interconnecting said offset lever means and said first hinge member and being located outwardly of said one of said wall portions to continually bias said lever means into engagement with said extension.

5. A hinge assembly comprising, in combination, a first hinge member having spaced juxtaposed wall portions interconnected by a web portion, a second hinge member pivoted to said first hinge member for swinging movement to first and second terminal positions relative thereto lbetween said wall portions, cam follower means on said second hinge member movable therewith, an extension on one end of one of said wall portions offset out of the general plane thereof to provide space between said extension and said second hinge member, lever means pivotally secured to said extension and swingable within said space, said lever means including at least one cam portion adapted to receive said cam follower means in one position of said second hinge member relative to said 4first hinge member, means on said lever means offset from the general plane -thereof and lying in the gen-eral plane of said extension and being engage-able with said extension in one terminal position of said second hinge member relative to said first hingermember to locate said lever means relativeto said extension and said cam follower means, an extension on said web portion extending outwardly of said one wall portion at the other end thereof, and resilient means interconnecting said web portion extension and said offset lever means and being .located outwardly of rsaid one wall portion to continually bias said lever means into engagement with said Wall portion extension.

6. A hinge assembly comprising, in combination, a first hinge member having spaced juxtaposed wall portions interconnected Iby a web portion, a second hinge member pivoted to said Wall portions intermediate the ends thereof for swinging movement to first and second terminal positions relative to said first hinge member between said wall portions, cam follower means on said second hinge member movable therewith, an extension on one end of one of said Wall portions offset out of the general plane there-` of to provide space between said extension and said second hinge member, a Jever pivotally secured to said extension and swingafble within sta-id space, said lever including an edge portion engageable with said cam follower means in at least one position of said second hinge member relative to said rst hinge member, a tab on said lever oiset from the general plane thereof and lying in the general plane of said extension and being engageable with said extension in one terminal position of said lsecond hinge member relative to said tirst hinge member to locate said lever relative to said extension, `an extension on said web portion extending outwardly of said one wall portion at the other end thereof, and tension spring means interconnecting said web portion extension and said tab and being located outwardly of said one Wall portion to continually bias said lever into engagement with said wall portion extension.

7. A hinge assembly comprising, in combination, a irst hinge member having spaced juxtaposed Wall portions inter-connected by a web portion, said wall portions including mounting means adapted to be secured to a support member to mount said first hinge member thereon with said web portion in spaced relationship thereto, a second hinge member pivoted to said wall portions intermediate the ends thereof for swinging movement to first and second termial positions relative to said lirst hinge member between said wall portions, cam follower means on said second hinge member movable therewith,

an extension on one end of one of said wall portions offset out of the general plane thereof to provide space between said extension and said second hinge member, lever means pivotally secured to said extension and swingable within said space, said lever means including an edge portion engageable with said cam follower means in at least one position of said second hinge member relative to said rst hinge member, means on said lever means oiiset from the general plane thereof and lying in the general plane of said extension and being engageable with said extension in one terminal position of said secund hinge member relative to said first hinge member to locate said lever means relative to said extension and said cam follower means, a tab on said web portion extending outwardly of said one Wall portion at the other end thereof, and spring means interconnecting said tab and said offset lever means to continually bias said lever means into engagement with said extension, said spring means being located outwardly of said one wall portion intermediate said web portion and said support member.

Burns May 14, 1957 Anthony et al Jan. 27, 1959 

1. A HINGE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FIRST HINGE MEMBER HAVING SPACED JUXTAPOSED WALL PORTIONS, A SECOND HINGE MEMBER PIVOTED TO SAID FIRST HINGE MEMBER FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT TO FIRST AND SECOND TERMINAL POSITIONS RELATIVE THERETO BETWEEN SAID WALL PORTIONS, CAM FOLLOWER MEANS ON SAID SECOND HINGE MEMBER MOVABLE THEREWITH, AN EXTENSION ON ONE OF SAID WALL PORTIONS OFFSET OUT OF THE GENERAL PLANE THEREOF TO PROVIDE SPACE BETWEEN SAID EXTENSION AND SAID SECOND HINGE MEMBER, LEVER MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID EXTENSION AND SWINGABLE WITHIN SAID SPACE, SAID LEVER MEANS INCLUDING AN EDGE PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CAM FOLLOWER MEANS IN AT LEAST ONE POSITION OF SAID SECOND HINGE MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST HINGE MEMBER, RESILIENT MEANS CONTINUALLY BIASING SAID LEVER MEANS TOWARD SAID CAM FOLLOWER MEANS, AND MEANS ON SAID LEVER MEANS OFFSET FROM THE GENERAL PLANE THEREOF AND LYING IN THE GENERAL PLANE OF SAID EXTENSION AND BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID EXTENSION IN ONE TERMINAL POSITION OF SAID SECOND HINGE MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST HINGE MEMBER TO LOCATE SAID LEVER MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID EXTENSION AND SAID CAM FOLLOWER MEANS. 